NWSL Portland Thorns FC

Thorns FC Earn 3-0 Shutout Victory over KC Current in 2022 NWSL Regular-Season Opener

Published on April 30, 2022 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Portland Thorns FC News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - In their 2022 NWSL regular-season home opener, Portland Thorns FC earned a 3-0 shutout victory over the Kansas City Current at Providence Park on Saturday afternoon. Morgan Weaver, Christine Sinclair and Sophia Smith tallied a goal each. Thorns FC are 9-0-0 in home openers and 7-1-1 in season openers. It also marked Portland's fifth clean sheet in a season opener.

Thorns FC's 10th Anniversary

Portland kicked off its 10th season of play in the National Women's Soccer League, improving to 7-1-1 in season openers. Thorns FC have recorded five shutouts (2014, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022) on the opening weekend of NWSL play, which is the most of any team in league history. Sinclair is one of six active players in the NWSL to have spent every season with the same club since 2013 (Lauren Barnes, Jess Fishlock, Tori Huster, Alyssa Mautz, Megan Rapinoe, Sinclair).

Portland Home Openers

Thorns FC are 9-0-0 in NWSL regular-season home openers, outscoring opponents 26-5 in those matches. Weaver, Sinclair and Smith each contributed to a goal for a second consecutive regular-season opener. Weaver tallied two assists in the 2021 home opener and added a goal in the 2022 opener. Smith scored two goals in last year's home opener and one in today's home opener. Sinclair has scored in back-to-back home openers, and in three out of the last four home openers (2018, 2021, 2022).

Debuts

Sam Coffey made her NWSL regular season debut, also earning the start for Portland. Janine Beckie made her Thorns FC regular season debut. It was Beckie's first NWSL regular season appearance since July 21, 2018, when she played for Sky Blue FC against Portland. Meaghan Nally earned her first start in an NWSL regular season match. Hina Sugita recorded her NWSL regular-season debut, entering as a second-half substitute.

Goal-Scoring Plays

POR - Morgan Weaver, 8th minute: Following build up play from the middle of the field, Rocky Rodríguez slipped a pass down the left side of the 18-yard box for Christine Sinclair to run onto and fire a shot on goal. KC's goalkeeper Adriana Franch deflected it away and Morgan Weaver pounced on the loose ball, slotting it into the back of the net.

POR - Christine Sinclair, 34th minute: From the right side of the box, Natalia Kuikka curled a cross toward the far post. Weaver battled for the duel, knocking it down and toward the six-yard box. Sinclair followed it up, sending a left-footed half volley into the goal.

POR - Sophia Smith (Meghan Klingenberg), 51st minute: Meghan Klingenberg chipped a diagonal ball to the edge of the 18-yard box for Sophia Smith, who took one touch and drilled a right-footed volley toward the far post and past the hands of Franch.

Notes:

Thorns FC kicked off their 10th season of play in the NWSL.

Portland is 9-0-0 in home openers, outscoring opponents 26-5.

Thorns FC are 7-1-1 in season openers.

Portland has recorded five shutouts (2014, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022) on the opening weekend of NWSL play, which is the most of any team in league history.

Thorns FC are undefeated against KC across all competitions with a mark of 3-0-1, outscoring them 8-1.

Today's win marked Rhian Wilkinson's first in regular season play at the helm for Thorns FC.

Morgan Weaver scored Portland's first goal of the regular season.

Christine Sinclair tallied her first goal of the campaign, and 55th for the club in regular-season play.

Sophia Smith scored her first goal of the season just six minutes after entering the match.

Weaver, Sinclair and Smith all contributed to goals in consecutive home openers (2021, 2022).

Weaver tallied two assists in 2021's home opener and a goal in this year's.

Sinclair has scored in back-to-back home openers. She has scored in three of the last four home openers (2018, 2021, 2022).

Smith scored two goals in 2021's home opener and one in today's home opener.

Meghan Klingenberg tallied her first assist of the season, and 16th in Portland's regular season history.

Klingenberg's 16 assists passed Sinclair (15) to claim second-most in the club's history, behind Tobin Heath (24).

Klingenberg recorded her 100th start for Thorns FC.

Bella Bixby recorded her 10th regular season clean sheet.

Sam Coffey made her NWSL regular season debut, also earning the start for Portland.

Janine Beckie logged her first NWSL regular season appearance since July 21, 2018, notably when she was playing for Sky Blue FC against Thorns FC.

Meaghan Nally earned her first start in an NWSL regular season match.

Hina Sugita recorded her NWSL regular-season debut, entering as a second-half substitute.

With the goal coming in the eighth minute, Portland has scored a goal in the first 10 minutes of their last two season openers (2022, 2021).

Thorns FC recorded 10 shots on goal in the first half, the most shots on target ever by a team in the first half of an NWSL regular season match.

Next Game

Thorns FC will travel to face the North Carolina Courage on Saturday, May 7, at WakeMed Soccer Park; kickoff is set for 4 p.m. (Pacific) on Paramount+.

Portland Thorns FC (1-0-0, 3pts) vs. KC Current (0-1-0, 0pts)

April 30, 2022 - Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Portland Thorns FC 2 1 3

KC Current 0 0 0

Scoring Summary:

POR: Weaver, 8

POR: Sinclair, 34

POR: S. Smith, 51

Misconduct Summary:

None

Lineups:

POR: GK Bixby, D Menges, D Hubly, D Nally, M Klingenberg (Pogarch, 82), M Coffey, M Kuikka, M Rodríguez (Sugita, 46), M Sinclair © (Ryan, 81), F Beckie (S. Smith, 46), F Weaver (Everett, 74)

Substitutes Not Used: GK A. Smith, D Provenzano, M Porter, M Moultrie

TOTAL SHOTS: 19 (S. Smith, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 12 (four players tied, 2); FOULS: 6 (six players tied, 1); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 1

KC: GK Franch, D Rodriguez, D Ball, D Winebrenner, D Weber, M Del Fava, M Edmonds, M Curran (Leach, 75), F McCain (Scott, 46), F Bennett (Hamilton, 65), F LaBonta (Pickett, 65)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Schneider, GK Miller, M Nolf

TOTAL SHOTS: 5 (five players tied, 1); SHOTS ON GOAL: 1 (Curran, 1); FOULS: 7 (LaBonta, 2); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 9

Referee: Brandon Stevis

Assistant Referees: Christian Clerc, Matthew Schwartz

4th Official: Jacklyn Metz

Weather: Rain showers, 56 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

Check out the Portland Thorns FC Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



National Women's Soccer League Stories from April 30, 2022


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central